Despite both Atlético Mineiro and Diego Tardelli being keen to reunite next season in Belo Horizonte, it is looking more probable that the striker will stay in the Middle East.

Tardelli, 27, has not been shy in expressing his desire to move back to his former club, but with one and a half years left on his contract in Qatar and being in excellent form, it is unlikely that Al-Gharafa will allow the player to leave.

“Things are not so simple, no,” Tardelli posted on social networking site Twitter.

“I have one and half years contract with Al Gharafa, everyone is happy with me, and I'm happy here (...) yesterday (Wednesday) one of my representatives was here to try anything, and the club didn’t want to chat with him.”

The striker also went on to say, before deleting both tweets, that he was touched by the support of Atlético fans in wanting him back at the club.

“It is not fair to say that I'm not happy in a place where everyone treats me very well. And I thank every fan for demonstrating that affection for me, wanting me back, demonstrations in the stands, social network, etc..”

Earlier this week Atlético president Alexandre Kalil spoke openly about his desire to bring the striker back to the club but also noted that the player’s form, he scored a hat-trick lastweekend, and his wage demands may scupper the deal.